Deflated, Sayegh says he has no regrets after losing Paterson mayor election

By JOE MALINCONICO

Paterson Press

PATERSON – After countless months of non-stop campaigning, losing mayoral candidate Andre Sayegh took some time for himself on Friday afternoon.

SAYEGH

With no events on his schedule, Sayegh planned to go to the mechanic to get a tire fixed. It had gone flat – ironically enough – on Election Night when he said he hit a pothole on his way to what he had hoped would be his victory celebration.

The real-life motor vehicle problem provided an apt metaphor for a deflated candidate whose pollsters were telling him days before the election that he was in position to win. But after a bruising campaign befitting Paterson’s rough-and-tumble political style, Sayegh came in second in an eight-person contest, more than 1,500 votes short of mayor-elect Jose “Joey” Torres. Four years earlier, he had finished third in the mayor’s race, more than 5,000 votes off the lead.

“I believe I did everything I could have done,” Sayegh said, when asked if he was engaged in any second-guessing. “I believe I knocked on every door I could have knocked on. There is nothing else I could have done. I left everything out on the field.”

“I believe I ran a positive campaign and I can build on that,” Sayegh added.

On Friday, with two years remaining on his term as a city councilman, Sayegh was not ready to discuss his future political plans. “I’m not thinking about what’s next,” he said. “I’m thinking about now.”

Sayegh continues as city council president for another six weeks. He said he wanted to make sure the council enacts a pending ordinance that would target crowds loitering outside stores and restaurants. He also said he hopes to get the council to adopt regulations restricting operating hours for late-night businesses. He said another priority would be the creation of special improvement districts along Main Street in South Paterson and 21st Avenue.

Torres, at first, declined to offer his thoughts on Sayegh
when asked about his rival. But then he changed his mind, saying he doesn’t like to be a “no comment” public official.

“Here is my recommendation for Councilman Sayegh,” said Torres. “He should sit back and do a little reflection.”

Torres said Sayegh had been “overzealous,” “too eager,” and “ambitious.” Torres said Sayegh’s career path included too many jumps, from aide to Rep. Bill Pascrell, to chief of staff for State Senator John Girgenti, to Paterson school board member, to city councilman, to mayoral contender.

“Haste makes waste,” Torres said. Then he added, “He doesn’t stay long enough in any one position for us to judge his achievements.”

Sayegh’s campaign vigorously highlighted the $74,000 severance payment Torres received in 2010 at the conclusion of his second term in office. When asked if he would continue to push that issue as a councilman, Sayegh said the governing body already had adopted a resolution asking Torres to repay the money.

During the campaign, Sayegh had the support of the state and Passaic County Democratic Party chairman, John Currie, whose backing helped him get tens of thousands of dollars in donations from people who live nowhere near Paterson. Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr., the popular former Paterson mayor, also backed Sayegh.

To some degree, the Currie and Pascrell endorsements may have backfired for Sayegh. Other rivals in the race joined together to attack what they called the intrusion of political bosses. In the waning days of the campaign, it almost became a seven-against-one contest.

In most other major cities in New Jersey, Sayegh would be preparing for a runoff against Torres. In places like Jersey City and Trenton, the top finisher must get more than 50 percent of the votes in order to win. Otherwise, there’s a runoff between the people who finish first and second.

But Paterson does not have a runoff provision and Torres won with less than 40 percent of the votes. Sayegh said Paterson should consider whether to include runoffs as part of its election law. But he said that’s a question best left to the voters through a referendum.

Already, there’s been talk that Torres would run a candidate in the 2016 election against Sayegh for the 6th Ward council seat. “I won’t run anybody,” Torres said. “But I will support somebody else if I think they could do a better job than he has. Absolutely.”

Sayegh said he would continue to champion the quality of life issues that have been his hallmark, like the shutdown of night clubs that are neighbor nuisances. “I want my work to speak for itself,” Sayegh said. “I’m not denying that I want to pursue the 6th Ward seat.”

But he acknowledged on Friday he would not try to win the city council presidency again this year. Two days earlier, Torres had said Sayegh had no chance of getting the position.

“He could be a good elected official,” Torres said of his opponent. “But an elected official can’t be everything to everybody.”

Deflated, Sayegh says he has no regrets after losing Paterson mayor election

PATERSON – After countless months of non-stop campaigning, losing mayoral candidate Andre Sayegh took some time for himself on Friday afternoon.

With no events on his schedule, Sayegh planned to go to the mechanic to get a tire fixed. It had gone flat – ironically enough – on Election Night when he said he hit a pothole on his way to what he had hoped would be his victory celebration.

The real-life motor vehicle problem provided an apt metaphor for a deflated candidate whose pollsters were telling him days before the election that he was in position to win. But after a bruising campaign befitting Paterson’s rough-and-tumble political style, Sayegh came in second in an eight-person contest, more than 1,500 votes short of mayor-elect Jose “Joey” Torres. Four years earlier, he had finished third in the mayor’s race, more than 5,000 votes off the lead.

“I believe I did everything I could have done,” Sayegh said, when asked if he was engaged in any second-guessing. “I believe I knocked on every door I could have knocked on. There is nothing else I could have done. I left everything out on the field.”

“I believe I ran a positive campaign and I can build on that,” Sayegh added.

On Friday, with two years remaining on his term as a city councilman, Sayegh was not ready to discuss his future political plans. “I’m not thinking about what’s next,” he said. “I’m thinking about now.”

Sayegh continues as city council president for another six weeks. He said he wanted to make sure the council enacts a pending ordinance that would target crowds loitering outside stores and restaurants. He also said he hopes to get the council to adopt regulations restricting operating hours for late-night businesses. He said another priority would be the creation of special improvement districts along Main Street in South Paterson and 21st Avenue.

Torres, at first, declined to offer his thoughts on Sayegh
when asked about his rival. But then he changed his mind, saying he doesn’t like to be a “no comment” public official.

“Here is my recommendation for Councilman Sayegh,” said Torres. “He should sit back and do a little reflection.”

Torres said Sayegh had been “overzealous,” “too eager,” and “ambitious.” Torres said Sayegh’s career path included too many jumps, from aide to Rep. Bill Pascrell, to chief of staff for State Senator John Girgenti, to Paterson school board member, to city councilman, to mayoral contender.

“Haste makes waste,” Torres said. Then he added, “He doesn’t stay long enough in any one position for us to judge his achievements.”

Sayegh’s campaign vigorously highlighted the $74,000 severance payment Torres received in 2010 at the conclusion of his second term in office. When asked if he would continue to push that issue as a councilman, Sayegh said the governing body already had adopted a resolution asking Torres to repay the money.

During the campaign, Sayegh had the support of the state and Passaic County Democratic Party chairman, John Currie, whose backing helped him get tens of thousands of dollars in donations from people who live nowhere near Paterson. Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr., the popular former Paterson mayor, also backed Sayegh.

To some degree, the Currie and Pascrell endorsements may have backfired for Sayegh. Other rivals in the race joined together to attack what they called the intrusion of political bosses. In the waning days of the campaign, it almost became a seven-against-one contest.

In most other major cities in New Jersey, Sayegh would be preparing for a runoff against Torres. In places like Jersey City and Trenton, the top finisher must get more than 50 percent of the votes in order to win. Otherwise, there’s a runoff between the people who finish first and second.

But Paterson does not have a runoff provision and Torres won with less than 40 percent of the votes. Sayegh said Paterson should consider whether to include runoffs as part of its election law. But he said that’s a question best left to the voters through a referendum.

Already, there’s been talk that Torres would run a candidate in the 2016 election against Sayegh for the 6th Ward council seat. “I won’t run anybody,” Torres said. “But I will support somebody else if I think they could do a better job than he has. Absolutely.”

Sayegh said he would continue to champion the quality of life issues that have been his hallmark, like the shutdown of night clubs that are neighbor nuisances. “I want my work to speak for itself,” Sayegh said. “I’m not denying that I want to pursue the 6th Ward seat.”

But he acknowledged on Friday he would not try to win the city council presidency again this year. Two days earlier, Torres had said Sayegh had no chance of getting the position.

“He could be a good elected official,” Torres said of his opponent. “But an elected official can’t be everything to everybody.”